FESTIVE NEW YEAR'S EVE DECOR

Are you having a New Year party to bring in 2013?

New Year parties are all about fun and celebration.  Make it happy.  Make it festive. Bring out champagne, clocks, party hats and balloons.  Have confetti, blowers, and streamers.   If weather permits, have sparklers outside or fireworks.  Typical decor ideas include having clocks, using gold and silvers mixed with black or red.  And of course bottles of champagne.

However you choose to celebrate the incoming New Year, have fun and enjoy your friends.

Happy 2013!!!!

Happy Thanksgiving

HAPPY THANKGIVING!

Mindy Weiss

I was recently at a great party that was coordinated and designed by renowned party planner, Mindy Weiss.

With star studded clients such as, Heidi Klum, Gwen Stefani, Neil Diamond and Jessica Simpson, Mindy is known for over-the-top design and anything but cookie-cutter. Her parties are extraordinary events in which the food, flowers and decorations will blow you away.  She plans every detail and never fails to surprise guests with her creativity.

I admire the work of party planners because, in a sense, it is interior design on steroids.  They work at such a fast pace and have to set up and break down  in a matter of hours.  A very short window of time is given to ensure that every thing planned happens on time and perfectly.

My hat is off to Mindy Weiss.  The girl is good!  Love her work.

http://mindyweiss.com

RED WHITE AND BLUE

The Fourth of July is here upon us.  Have some fun and get creative decorating your picnic or dinner party.  Fun ribbon and pretty little flags will create the mood and get everyone in a festive mood.

Here are some insprirational photos that will inspire you up for decorating your party. 

Hope you have a wonderful Fourth of July!

Diamonds In Glass

DIG ( Diamonds in Glass ),is an Austrian company that came up with a way to suspend and insert genuine cut diamonds in borosilicate glass.

Their "Imperial Champagne Glass", prices at $ 85,000 usd per piece, is the most expensive champagne flute in the world.  It gives the term "dressing the table" a whole new meaning.  

Not the kind of glass you toss in the dishwasher!

http://www.diamondsinglass.com

 

Marcel Wanders for Christofle

Renowned French luxury silverware company Christofle has joined forces with iconic Dutch designer Marcel Wanders to create a new line of flatware called Jardin d'Eden.  

Christofle silver flatware has graced the tables of most royalty and luxury hotels for decades and updating and creating a new design was a brand resposibility.  The fun and creative designs of Wanders were just the punch that Christofle needed.  He brought a breath of fresh air to this traditional line with his poetic and romantic style.  

The handles and backs of these beautiful serving pieces are decorated with a single engraving, like a ballerina’s leg garbed in embroidered hosiery. Patterns of interlacing, leaves, flowers and curls are inspired by a lush garden. Marcel's designs are  whimsical  yet sensitive to the traditional lines of Christofle.

Now you know what to put on the perfect luxury dinner table and Palm Beach brides have a new pattern to put on their registry!

 

HOW TO USE PURPLE

Wondering how to incorporate purple into your design scheme? Here are some tips from me on the best ways to make purple work:

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/designer-purple-15104495?singlePage=true#.TuJ3IZjmYkE

And don't forget to check out my new HGTV "Celebrity Holiday Homes" special premiering on December 18th at 8 p.m. EST. I decorate Allie Sweeney's home in all shades of purple to create a super glam holiday look! Check your local listings for times and airdates!

Get Busy!

Get busy setting that table!

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and I hope you have all of the ideas for your table in place and all of the decorations you will set out organized.  Don't leave it for the last moment.  Take some time today and get ready and be ahead of the game for tomorow. Don't stress out.  Have fun with it.  It's a family celebration.

Have a great Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving Tables

Thanksgiving is almost here.  Have you thought of how you will be dressing your table?

If you are hosting a Thanksgiving party it's time to start thinking of your theme and the style you want your table shown for your guest.  No matter if it's casual, formal or somewhere in between planning is key and making sure you have everything in advance is essential.  Keep in mind who your guest are.  If there are a lot of kids, you may want a separate area or table for them to eat. Don't leave the decorating and planning for last because the day before and the day of you will only be thinking about the turkey.

Here are some pretty photos that may inspire you to come up with a good theme for your Thanksgiving dinner.  Remember - your guest will love walking into a pretty dining room wher you took the time to plan out a memorable family meal for them. Have fun!

MARCY BLUM's 4th of July

Everyone from Oprah to Regis and Kelly, have called upon Marcy Blum for event and party help. She is the it “party girl” and expert party planner when it comes to fun events.   She has over 25 years in the party planning industry, and knows how to pull the ultimate fiesta like no one.

Last year she did a 4th of July patriotic party which was photographed for  Hamptons Magazine, and I thought it was appropriate to show those photos this week since we are once again celebrating our nation's birthday.  Marcy clearly shows that a home event does not have to be fancy, just creative. I like the way  she color coded tables in red, white and blue, and chose food,drinks and accessories in the color of each table.  

Are you ready for the weekend?  Have a Happy Happy Fourth!

http://www.marcyblum.com/

 

Pretty Dining Room

I recently turned over a home to a client in Los Cabos, Mexico and my favorite room in this house turned out to be the dining room.   It had a great ocean view, pocket doors which made the inside and outside dining areas  seamless.  I added cabana curtains to the outside eating area to bring the inside out and make the two rooms connect. 

The design concept was a new traditional Spanish mix with vibrant corals and creams.  I used beaded shell place mats, simple ceramic Vietri dishes and coral colored Vietri silverware to accent the table and purposely kept it simple since I wanted the beach to be the focus. I love fragrant flowers, so I used Casablanca lilies on both tables. 

Fun, isn't it?

Summer brunch

Thinking of having a brunch this weekend?  I saw some beautiful concept photos for beach brunch table settings. Shells, flowers, white dishes, gauze table cloths.  I'm in a beach frame of mind. I hope these photos inspire you to prepare and decorate a fabulous summer brunch table.  I'm off to start working on mine. 

Have a great weekend!

DINING BY DESIGN

"Dining by Design" is a great fundraiser event held in several cities across the U.S.   Designers and participating sponsors start  by renting a space and then designing and creating a unique and beautiful dining space installations indicative of their style and taste.  Tickets are sold and the general public is invited to view and enjoy these temporary displays of art.   

All proceeds go to  DIFFA (Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS) a foundation that has raised over $40 million towards care and prevention of HIV/AIDS by partnering in unique ways with the design industry.   

If you are in a city hosting a "Dining by Design" I hope you can go. Great event, great cause.

http://www.diffa.org/events.asp

 

 

JEWELED TABLETOP ACCESSORIES

My love for beautiful table top items is known to all.  I can spend hours picking out the perfect napkin and enjoy every moment of it.

One of my new favorite jeweled tabletop accessory companies is Rablabs who merges modern elements and semi precious stones to create unique line.   Stones such as rose quartz,  agate, amethyst, and rock crystal are used in such creative ways and make up a group of napkin rings, cheese plates, coasters and wine bottle stoppers.

I ordered some for my home and can't wait to get them!

http://www.rablabs.com/

LIMOGES CHINA

Do you know what Limoge is?

Limoges china is a type of French dinnerware named after the small town in France where it has been made since the 1760's.  The hard paste material that the dishes are made out of are quarried close by and make elegant and fine porcelain dishes.   Bernardaud and Haviland are two of the largest manufacturers but there are many others manufacturers.  One of my favorite is Philippe Deshoulieres.

Like English bone china, French Limoges china is considered the premiere choice for quality plates and is highly collectable.   Upscale brides all over the world add Limoges collections to their wedding bridal registries.     

It may sound fancy ( and it is).  But don't be afraid to experiment and play with Limoges dishes. You can buy and get great prices on vintage Limoges dishes at antique stores.  Don't worry if they are not complete sets.  Thats the beauty of todays's more casual living.  You can mix old vintage Limoges patterns with simple ceramic dishes and create a unique table that is all your own. 

 

 

MOTHER'S DAY TABLES

Do you have any special plans for Mother's Day?

It's one of those special holidays in which you get to treat your mom to a great brunch and make her feel special for all she does for you.  Last year my design team and I celebrated Mother's Day by having an all pink brunch and everyone brought their mom as a date.  It was really cool.  Here are our photos:

http://www.sandraespinetblog.com/2010/05/mothers-day-brunch-.html.

A few great Mother's Day table settings that I hope will inspire you to do something pretty with your mom.  Have a great weekend!

 

 

DECORATING WITH FOOD

Decorating with food is one of the easiest ways to make your party or event pop with life.  It's also a fun way to incorporate color and design into your decor.  I've decorated with food on several of my HGTV specials and I always create a food display when I'm entertaining at home.

All you need are some clear apothecary jars to fill with food or a group of identical trays to display your cookies or candy on.  I have also used pretty hat boxes as plates in the past.  Add some accessories that go with your theme and voila!  A beautiful colorful food display.

Have fun at your next party - get creative and make a food display for all to enjoy.

 

DAVID STARK- EVENT PLANNER EXTRAORDINAIRE

Im obsessed with the work of NY event planner David Stark!

Known for creating the extraordinary, David is one of the most sought after event planners in NY. He has  high profile clients and specializes in large scale events.  His events are stunning and larger than life.  I saw photos of the  Robin Hood Foundation and they were mind blowing.  Every element of the décor was made out of something that could be donated, from towels and sheets to first aid kits.  He created a giant cloud sculpture out of shoes and suspended it in mid air and a mammoth chair made out of water bottles.   4,000 people attended and 100% of the proceeds of the evening went to help fight poverty in Manhattan. 

David has published 3 books and recently launched his own home products in collaboration with West Elm.   

Love him!  He is one to watch.

 http://www.davidstarkdesign.com/

 

Beautiful Easter Tables

No matter what you do for your Easter meal, make it fun and make it pretty.  Take the time to set a lovely table - even if it's just for two.   It's one of those holidays that gives you an excuse to dress up your table and celebrate life. 

Easter diners are great if you have a big family or if you want a more formal setting.  Martha Stewart has some beautiful ideas for Easter celebrations on her website.  But if you live somewhere that has good weather, take it outside and have a more casual brunch.  This will give you an opportunity to do an Easter egg hunt and be outside.

You still have a few days to prepare and come up with a good theme for this weekend.  And here are a few inspiration photos for you to start the thought process.  I'm working on mine.

http://www.marthastewart.com

Event Planners

From a design standpoint, I can truly say that grand event planners deserve a big round of applause!

These designers perform crazy, frantic, fast-paced concepts and  manage to get things done under huge pressure for important clients at lightning speed. Custom invitations, special menus and catering, custom florals, lighting, lovely tabletops,  and entertainment. Within days, they can completely transform the look and feel of any ballroom or location into any imaginable  themed event.

Anyone who has ever attended an event by famous event planners such as Along Came Mary or Great Performances  knows the detail and perfection they can achieve.   My hat is off to all of you fabulous event planners out there!

Do you mix and match?

Do you mix and match your dishes?  Is it a sacrilege to mix up different Limoges china patterns on the same table?  

It depends who you talk to.  I know some people will disagree with me.  The proper and traditional way is to keep it all the same, like our grandmothers did.  But a great way to bring a fresh  breath of  air to formal patterns is to create an interesting mix. It can still be sophisticated and elegant, just not uptight.   

Today, Im crazy about the Philippe Deshoulieres lime green Limoges china pattern called  Arcades, and the  Ana Weatherly  Ivy Garden collection.   I'm working on designing a dining room in which both patterns will live together.   Now ... I'm off to find the perfect silverware.

http://www.michaelcfina.com

A Proper Table

I love to mix and match and to set tables in a non traditional way for day to day and casual events.  Its fun and playful.  But I do like formal settings and proper tables at black tie and very sophisticated events.

So how do you set silverware at a proper table? 

 

 

Teal Talavera

How about mixing Mexican Talavera with beachy shells and starfish?  I recently did just that for an interior design client in Los Cabos, Mexico and it turned out pretty cool.  I used beautiful starfish etched glassed from Vietri and embroidered white linen napkins from  Kim Seabert .   

To make the Talavera stand out and shine I used a mix of dishes and placed a cream ceramic Vietri diner plate and a Kim Seabert shell charger below.

What do you think?  Would you like to eat at this table?

Mountain Christmas

A perfect Mountain Christmas touch can be achieved by decorating the backs of chairs like this photo by Michael Edwards.   A simple picnic table, plaid table cloth, and the placement of bells and pine cones hanging from the back of a chair. Creative and vernacular.

How simple and beautiful is this?

Feminine Ocean Table

What a beautiful table!  Soft ethereal and feminine.  I love the use of the shell chandelier as well as the shells and star fish used as table decor.  It really adds to the whole beach feel and makes the theme for this table and is so easy to replicate.  The white slip covers and cabana curtains also enhance the fresh beach feel and help create the clean look.

I would love to be invited to lunch at this table to enjoy the ocean as I ate.  Wouldn't you?

 

Hermes Dishes

I was online and saw this great photo someone posted of a table setting they did using the Hermes Continental collection.  It's so fun and colorful and so elegant and sophisticated.   Apart from the dishes, I loved the use of an orange as a name place holder as well as the informal flower arrangement.  Very well done.  A perfect table!

I adore these red & white Hermes dishes.  Don't you?

Romantic diner for two

I was in the mood for something special.  I pulled out my antique blue & white china dishes and mixed them with some solid French blue ceramic plates I bought in Provence, France.   I used silver dragon style napkin rings I bought in Thailand and laid out rosewood and silver tipped chopsticks that I brought back from Shanghai.  I set a lovely Asian inspired table and made diner for two.

Anyone up for some sake, egg rolls and fried rice?

Vietnamese Laquerware

One of the things I loved the most about my shopping adventures in Vietnam were the beautiful handmade laquered dishes.  There were so many amazing patterns that it was impossible to choose.  But I finally settled on a gold tone square plate with bright red flowers painted on them.  

I like to mix and match  dishes to create interest and update the formal feel.  I recently had a diner party and had the chance to show off my Vietnamese Laquerware.  Love them!

 

Holly Robinson-Peete's Christmas Table

During the HGTV "Celebrity Holiday Homes" special in 2009, I decorated Holly Robinson Peete's home for Christmas.  My favorite part was, of course, dressing the table.   I did her table in soft teal, golds and shell motifs to reflect the rest of the Cabo inspired holiday decor.

It turned out so elegant.  I loved it!

All White Christmas Table

I created an all white Christmas diner table for Brooke Burke by using  beautiful Italian white Vietri dishes.  I then added white linen Vietri napkins and made my own napkin rings by wrapping white ribbon and a Christmas bell around them in a pretty bow.  I worked with floral designer Stepahnie Garce to come up with an all white rose centerpiece that completely transformed the table into a soft magical all white winetr wonderland.

Would you enjoy having Christmas diner here?

I Love Dishes!

When my friends come over for diner I like them to enjoy a perfectly dressed table.  I love dishes and  I love setting a pretty table.  It's such a comforting everyday luxury to be able to extend to guests.

I hope you can take the time to do the same for your friends!

Mother's Day Brunch

Mother's Day is such a special holiday, so I organized a brunch for my design staff and each designer had to bring her mom as her date.  I decorated the table with pink roses and white table cloths and napkins.  I got pink ribbon with wire edges and wrapped big bows behind the chairs to really give it a femine feel.

Would your mom like this table?

The 2010 Emmy's

I attended the Emmy's and after the show I was invited to the Governor's Ball.  While everyone ran around looking at celebs my infatuation was the table and decor!  Yes... I know... I'm obsessed with design.  But I wanted to share the beautiful table with you.  It really looked elegant and was very Hollywood and appropriate for the occasion.  My only complaint was that there were sooo many glasses for each of us that we started getting confused and simply laughing about which glass to pick up.

How many glasses do you think is appropriate on a table?